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Goings starts job as County Treasurer

staff photo by Ben Baugh
Jason Goings is sworn in as Aiken County Treasurer by U.S. Rep. Jeff Duncan at the Aiken County Historical Museum. Pictured, from left, are Duncan, Michelle Goings, Brandon Goings, Hagan Goings and Jason Goings with his hand raised. Jason Goings used his great-grandfather's Bible for the swearing-in.

After what felt like a lifetime, Jason Goings is starting his position as Aiken County Treasurer today.

Goings, who was one of 11 write-in candidates, didn't know that he won the race in November until several days after the election due to a delay in getting the final results.

Goings, 42, and a native of Belvedere, is excited to finally start his new job.

Though he was elected in November, he started today because it's a position that doesn't go into effect until the beginning of the fiscal year. But he's been in the office working along side now former Treasurer Linda Sharpe since January.

Goings said Sharpe called him soon after the election results were in and said she was there for him if he needed anything.

“We've worked together since the first of January basically getting ready for the transition,” Goings said on Thursday.

Over those months, Goings and Sharpe teamed up to make a change in the Treasurer's office in which all bad checks will immediately be sent to the Worthless Check Unit which is operated by the Solicitor's Office.

Sharpe said that she has confidence that Goings is going to do a great job.

Goings said he hopes to make the Treasurer's office as efficient and customer-friendly as possible. And he feels pretty confident in the staff that has been so kind to him over the last few months.

Goings said that the staff has been very welcoming and helpful in making it a positive start to the new position.

“I'm really looking forward to helping not just the citizens of Aiken County, but other departments, too,” Goings said.

Goings worked at Silver Bluff High School for almost two decades as a media specialist as well as a teacher of government and economics. He earned a bachelor's degree from Clemson University and a master's degree from the University of South Carolina in Columbia.

He said it was very hard to leave his teaching position, but he is excited for this new opportunity in public service.

Goings thanks residents for writing in his name in November.

“I'm truly grateful to the citizens of Aiken County for entrusting me with the great responsibility that this office has,” Goings said.

The 2012 Aiken County Treasurer's race

The race for Aiken County Treasurer during the 2012 election was an interesting one to say the least.Not only were 11 people running for the position, they were all write-ins.The results were not in until the Friday after the November election due to computer problems and three days of counting votes.A total of 16,063 votes were cast in Aiken County during that election.There was another twist to the 2012 elections. Jason Goings, who was initially running for auditor, was one of about 300 candidates for offices throughout South Carolina decertified from running in the June primary. That decision forced Goings to run as a write-in for auditor because of the state Supreme Court ruling that stated new candidates seeking elected office must submit a paper copy of a Statement of Economic Interest at the same time that they submit their intention of candidacy.Lastly, voters also turned down a referendum that would have changed the form of government in Aiken County in which auditor and treasurer would be appointed rather than elected.

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